Abraham Maslow was responsible for categorizing a hierarchy of the various needs that people experience. This hierarchy of needs states that we prioritize needs and are motivated to fulfill 'higher' needs, only when 'baser' ones have been met. There are 5 different levels of needs; physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self actualization. Physiological needs are the most basic needs, pertaining to survival. Safety refers to the need to feel safe, secure, and stable, in a world that seems organized and predictable. Belongingness and love are the need to love and be loved; to avoid alienation and loneliness. Esteem is a higher need that requires a feeling of accomplishment and recognition or respect from others. Self actualization is the highest level of needs, and is the need to live up to one's fullest and unique potential.
Level 1: Physiological
food
Food provides sustenance for the body, a biological imperative if we are to survive. People who die of starvation are those who have failed to meet this physiological need. Without nutrition, we cannot focus on achieving higher needs such as love or self respect.
water
Water is similarly important. It is said that we can only survive for a week without drinking. Water contributed to the physiological needs that must be met, before our attention can be focused elsewhere.
air
Air is a necessary for life. It is one of the most obvious physiological needs because we die within moments, without an adequate supply of it.
sunlight
Sunlight falls under physiological needs because it is necessary in order to carry out all life functions. Not only does it provide nutrients such as vitamin D, it is also indirectly responsible for all life on earth (Plants use it for photosynthesis; we eat plants; we also eat the animals that eat the plants. Sunlight is the first step in this food chain). Without sunlight there can be no life, meaning that we have not fulfilled our physiological needs.
shelter
Shelter can be categorized as a physiological need because it is one of the basic conditions of survival. Without shelter we are exposed to natural elements and other danger that are not conductive to the continuance of life. Finding shelter (whether it be permanent or transient) is something we prioritize above all other needs.
heat
Heat is also a physiological need because it deals with physical needs. We require heat in order to carry out necessary body functions. Without heat we expend to much energy completing simple tasks that would have been simple if our bodies were not required to waste energy on preserving a state of homeostasis. Extreme absences of heat can lead to death, placing it in the category of physiological needs.
Level 2: Safety
support
Support is one of the most obvious needs that fall under the category of safety. Receiving support from friends and family lends a feeling of safety and stability that can help us feel safe.
procreation
Procreation provides safety because it ensures that we will have someone to support us in our old age. As our parents have supported us as children, we return the favor as adults by looking after them. By having children (procreating) we ensure that the cycle will continue.
shelter
We require some form of shelter in order to feel safe and secure from outside harms. When we have a physical place to return to for safety it also provides us with reassurance that there is some sort of order to the world and that we can exert some kind of control over it.
money
Money is critical to safety because it provides economic comfort. This means that our survival is not endangered because of an inability to provide necessities, as a result of money. Someone who lives on a day-to-day paycheck and is in danger of being evicted because they cannot pay their rent is an example of someone who is suffering an inability to achieve their 'safety needs' because of money.
Level 3: Love/Belonging
support
Support logically falls under the category of 'the need for love/belonging' because that is what the need entails. We ask for people to love us and to be allowed to 'belong' to the group, so we can receive the support that comes from these relationships. Whether it is being loved in a romantic sense, or belonging to a group of friends, we crave and require the support that such relationships bring.
friendship
Friendship falls under the 'love/belonging' category because it is one of the methods through which we can accomplish this need. Having friends allows us to prevent feelings of alienation or loneliness because we have a "support group" and people who we can relate to.
procreation
Procreation can fall under the category of 'love/belonging' because it can be an expression of both. In a romantic relationship it is acknowledging the fact that someone loves you enough to want to create new life with you. In a social context, having children allows you to fit into the norm of adulthood- it is generally accepted that you will grow up, get a job, get married, and have children of your own to continue the population.
love
Love is one of the conditions for the fulfillment of this level of needs. Its placement in this category is obvious.
acceptance
Acceptance (by family, peers, society, etc..) also falls into this category because it means that we have found a way to 'fit in' or 'belong'. Without acceptance we cannot assimilate ourselves into the society, at which point we become alienated, at which point we have failed to achieve the needs of this level.
Education
I think that especially in today's culture/society it is essential to have some form of education if you want to belong. At the bare minimum, i think that a person needs to have completed a high school education if they want to successfully integrate themselves into society and feel a sense of comfort in knowing that they belong.
Attractiveness/the feeling of attractiveness
I think that this is another important aspect of love/belonging because we feel that there is a higher possibility that we will be loved/belong if we are more attractive. Thus being more attractive/feeling that you are more attractive will allow people to better integrate themselves among others, and will give them a higher chance at finding love/belonging.
Level 4: Esteem
self respect
Self respect falls under the category of esteem, because it is a necessary condition to achieving that need. We can expect someone to respect us if we do not respect ourselves. We cant ask that someone else recognize out accomplishments, if we do not personally see them for the successes that they are. The reason that self respect does not fall under any of the earlier categories (love/belonging) is because people will sacrifice their self respect in order to be 'loved' or to belong- if it can be sacrificed it must mean that it is not in the fulfillment of that need.
friendship
Friendship is necessary for achieving 'Esteem' because it instills the idea that there are people who like us for who we are, and who appreciate us. Healthy friendships generally include mutual respect between both parties, one of the requirements of this level of needs.
love
Love also falls under this category because it instills the idea that people value us, and respect us. This fulfills the criteria of this level of needs.
acceptance
Acceptance by someone else constitutes recognition of yourself by that other person. By accepting your accomplishments and your failures you can achieve a self of competence; another condition for the fulfillment of this level of needs.
medium/high socioeconomic comfort.
I think that this is something that most people try to achieve while they fulfill their need for esteem, because it yields the greatest results. People are more likely to respect you and praise your accomplishments if you arent an unemployed person who lives in his/her parents' basement. Likewise, it is easier to gain positive recognition from peers and other members of society if you arent homeless.
Level 5: Self-Actualization
self respect
Self respect is crucial for the fulfillment of this need because it is impossible to reach 'self actualization' without first possessing self respect. We will be unable to live life to our fullest potential if we do not first recognize that we have such a potential. Someone who has no self respect will be unable to satisfy this level of needs because they are unable to comprehend their capabilities, and because they will be unable to aspire to anything greater than what they currently see themselves as.
acceptance
It would be impossible to satisfy our need to reach our fullest potential if we didn't accept the fact that we had room for improvement. Without acceptance for our failures, or acceptance for the possibility of improvement, there can be no development of character. Without acceptance it is impossible to fulfill this level of needs.
realizing potential
Realizing potential is the most obvious aspect of this level of needs. We can reach towards out fullest unique potential if we dont first realize what potential we have. The actual realization or completion of our potential is the final step in this level of needs.
Maslow & Motivation
Abraham Maslow was responsible for categorizing a hierarchy of the various needs that people experience. This hierarchy of needs states that we prioritize needs and are motivated to fulfill 'higher' needs, only when 'baser' ones have been met. There are 5 different levels of needs; physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self actualization. Physiological needs are the most basic needs, pertaining to survival. Safety refers to the need to feel safe, secure, and stable, in a world that seems organized and predictable. Belongingness and love are the need to love and be loved; to avoid alienation and loneliness. Esteem is a higher need that requires a feeling of accomplishment and recognition or respect from others. Self actualization is the highest level of needs, and is the need to live up to one's fullest and unique potential.
Level 1: Physiological
Level 2: Safety
Level 3: Love/Belonging
Level 4: Esteem
Level 5: Self-Actualization